KUALA LUMPUR — The Sumud Nusantara Command Center (SNCC) has confirmed that 22 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF 2.0) were intercepted and boarded by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in international waters earlier today.
The incident, which took place between 1.00am and 11.00am (Malaysian time), occurred approximately 656 nautical miles from the Gaza coast, near Crete Island, Greece.
SNCC Director-General Datuk Sani Araby Datuk Abdul Alim Araby stated that the flotilla was positioned within a legitimate international sailing zone guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“The IOF executed an aggressive approach, which included firing warning shots at the delegation’s vessels and utilizing radio frequency interference to threaten unarmed humanitarian activists.
“Dozens of unidentified drones were detected operating around the flotilla during the incident, believed to be monitoring and disrupting the movement and communications of the vessels,” he said in a statement today at 12.30pm on the 18th day of the mission.
A total of 186 individuals across 22 vessels were affected by the interception.
SNCC confirmed that 10 Malaysian citizens are among those currently detained after six specific vessels were boarded.
The identified Malaysians are:
- Arkham III: Zainal Rashid Ahmad.
- Eros 1: Osman Zolkifli and Dr. Jihan Alya Mohd Nordin.
- Esplai: Mohd Shamsir Mohd Isa.
- Bianca BCN: Hazwan Hazim Dermawan, Mohd Hanafi Mohd Salim, Ahmad Musa Al-Nuwayri Kamaruzaman, and Norhelmi Ab Ghani.
- Freia: Mohd Redzal Amzah.
- Marea: Muhamad Muhsin Zaidi.
SNCC countered claims made by the IOF, stating that audio and visual evidence proves the flotilla remained within international maritime protocols, contrary to “false narratives” used to justify the attack.
“We calls upon all Malaysians to unite in prayer (Solat Hajat and Doa Qunut Nazilah) for the safety and protection of the entire mission delegation, especially the Malaysians who are currently being held and remain unreachable,” said Sani Araby.
The public is advised to refer to the SNCC as the authentic source of information to curb the spread of propaganda. Real-time monitoring of the flotilla’s status can be accessed via their official tracker at sntracker.sumudnusantara.com.
